There may be an underlying reason why New Year’s Eve at
French Lick Resort ranks No. 1 on the list for Russell and Susan Pikus.
Going on 37 years of marriage, the Pikuses are regulars at
French Lick Resort. Sometimes more than 20 visits per year, and maybe 100 overall
by Susan’s estimation. They’ve seen it all. They’ve done it all. But they agree
New Year’s Eve is their favorite day of the year at the resort — because it’s a
night they have to themselves.
Finally.
“Raising kids we didn’t go out New Year’s Eve,” Russell
explained. “We had New Year’s Eve parties for the kids.”
“And then once they left, it’s like, ‘Ooh, it’s our turn
now,’” Susan finished. New Year’s Eve is the absolute best. I can’t imagine
going anywhere else. We’ve been to about five of the New Year’s parties, and we
won’t ever miss it now because we like it so much.”
Ahhh, the freedom
of being empty nesters.
For years, their lives orbited around their five kids and
their whirlwind of activities, with little leisure time for just the two of
them. (As every parent who’s reading this right now is probably nodding in
agreement.) When the last kid graduated and moved out of the house, that was
Russell and Susan’s cue to get out of the house, too.
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| Dinner at 1875: The Steakhouse has been a popular part of the itinerary in the dozens of times Russell and Susan have visited French Lick Resort over the years. |
They got the feeling about it starting with the first time
they ever visited.
Russell and Susan came here to celebrate an anniversary, and
they had booked reservations at French Lick Springs Hotel. But being their
first time in town, they stopped at the first huge hotel they saw coming into
town — West Baden Springs Hotel. Luckily, they’d come on a night where a little
mix-up could be fixed right there on the spot.
“When they knew it was our anniversary and there was room
(at West Baden), they just let us stay there and accommodated us that way. And
that was just awesome,” Susan recalls.
They’ve been back dozens and dozens of times and have
explored every corner of the resort together. Couple’s massages at the spa. ChocolateFestival. Carriage rides. Concerts. Wine and Dessert Soirée. Every visit brings
something new. As well as the chance to get out and enjoy different things on
their own — Russell will hit up the golf course while the casino is more of
Susan’s happy place.
Susan’s mother, on her 95th birthday, even stayed
up with her daughter into the wee hours of the morning at the casino when the
family brought about 20 people to the resort for a birthday celebration. For a
very different landmark birthday — the 21st birthday of their twin
daughters — the Pikus crew was here at the resort for that, too.
And when they’ve had friends visit Indiana from Chicago or
Florida, they don’t stay in. It’s all about getting out to somewhere special.
Susan sums it up with a pretty good reason why: “I’d just rather come here and
have fun, instead of stay home and cook and cook and cook.”
By this point, they’ve visited so many times that Susan in
on a first-name basis with Barb from the hotel’s Signature Shop. She remembers
meeting Susan’s daughters and always asks how they’re doing. And Susan has
gotten to be so close with her casino hosts that they’re always on her
Christmas list every year.
Their nest may have emptied a few years ago, but things
don’t feel empty. A love for travel has a way of keeping you feeling full.
“Really,” Susan says, “we enjoy life more because we come
here.”